Are Your Seeds Ripe?
Right before the first frost, I took a walk through my garden, harvesting the last tomatoes and collecting seeds from a flower bed. Those seeds were special to me because I’ve never seen the kind of flowers they produced, and I sure wouldn’t know where to buy some more seeds. So I was carefully looking through my flower patch to not miss a single seed. As I continued, I asked myself if I could just collect everything, some wilting flowers, or even blooming ones. That’s how my conversation with the Lord about seeds started.
As I moved on to my giant marigolds, not really a variety, but mine exceeded the regular size, I sure wanted some of those seeds for next year. I held one of the pods and pulled on the seeds with my other hand; they didn’t budge. I pulled as hard as I could - nothing. I literally felt like I was playing tug-of-war with God, and as I thought, ‘Come out of there,’ He said, ‘No, they are not ready yet!’ The whole thing was kind of humorous, but it also opened my eyes.
I realized that seeds have to mature. And the Lord is keeping a close watch on it.
Curious, I later read up on it. The seeds actually are nourished in their protective shell until they are ready to face the earth. Protected, yes, but the nourishing part was a new concept to me. They really get prepared and loaded up with everything they need. Baby seeds won’t do a thing.
FYI I’m wearing a size XL glove :)
It made me think of the seeds we throw out when we go out witnessing about Jesus. One particular situation came to mind that I was very uneasy about for a long time. I visited a recovery Bible study where the teacher told the people that going out to minister about Jesus was a must, referring to Romans 10:9. He actually made them do it as part of the recovery program, even for people who had just received Christ. I saw the uncomfortable faces of people who were just learning to get ready to face society, as if that wasn’t enough on its own. My garden day confirmed my apprehension. It’s one thing to confess the Lord instead of denying Him when asked, or to share with your family and friends, even when that might be very challenging. But to be thrown out in the streets in front of a pack of wolves? I could never understand this man’s approach.
I do not believe that this is God’s intent, and it sure won’t give Him glory. As baby Christians, we are not prepared to go out in the big, wide, rough world to witness. It takes some preparation and nourishment through the Word and experiencing God’s love to know that we are His beloved.
In His timing!
So, be at peace!
The Lord will let you loose!
Sit in His lap and get nourished!
Ah, we all can use some more of that!
